FILM: THE HANGOVER II
Review By Duncan McLeod
Director: Todd Phillips
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong
Synopsis: The Hangover Part II is director Todd Phillips’ follow-up to 2009′s smash hit “The Hangover,” which became the highest-grossing R-rated comedy of all-time and also won the Golden Globe for Best Film – Comedy or Musical. Reprising their roles from “The Hangover,” Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, and Justin Bartha star in the film. Jeffrey Tambor, Ken Jeong and Mike Tyson also rejoin the cast. In “The Hangover Part II,” Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), Alan (Zach Galifianakis) and Doug (Justin Bartha) travel to exotic Thailand for Stu’s wedding. After the unforgettable bachelor party in Las Vegas, Stu is taking no chances and has opted for a safe, subdued pre-wedding brunch. However, things don’t always go as planned. What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but what happens in Bangkok can’t even be imagined.
Review:
The original HANGOVER movie was funny, original, creative and a sleeper hit. The sequel is none of those things. Writer director Todd Phillips has offered up the same lame dog with no new tricks and followed the formula from the first movie with exacting gusto.
The path that Ed Helms’ Stu could have trodden from the first film has been thrown out and an appeal to the Asian demographic has been blatantly made here. The coupling of Stu and his new wife also plays to the society stereotype and whilst their relationship is at times believable it is cheap and unnecessary.
The script is shallow and unfulfilled. Galifianakis’ character Alan is a whole new level of pathetic that has been developed through Galifianakis recent forays in DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS & DUE DATE. What HANGOVER II has achieved for this reviewer is the desire to never watch another Galifianakis or Todd Phillips movie again. Phillips is responsible for OLD SCHOOl which many loved but Primate loathed and the aforementioned DUE DATE which was as crass and pathetic as any movie I’ve ever detested. It was also a career low for ROBERT DOWNEY JR.
Ken Jeong as Chow is disgusting. Jeong is nothing like the Chow persona and should take roles that reflect that not the garbage that he spat out here. Bradley Cooper was alright but goes through the motions and is pretty enough for people to forget the bad choices he makes. He is a good actor and will recover from this. Justin Bartha is perhaps the only person of the main ensemble who’s reputation isn’t damaged by this film, as he’s only in it for a heartbeat.
The casting of director Ang Lee’s son Mason as ‘Teddy’ only attempts to give the film clout it doesn’t deserve. Mason’s father has a talent for cinema but Mason doesn’t have a talent for acting.
Primate is a great fan of Paul Giamatti. His cameo here pushes the boundaries of humour. Having appeared in BARNEY’S VERSION, the memory of that performance is still strong enough to gloss over this obvious payday.
There were so many rumours of cameo involvement in this film. These included Mel Gibson and former US President Bill Clinton. The best they could come up with was Nick Cassavetes who was a pale comparison for a role that should have been Gibson’s.
The cinematography and set design were excellent. It did look visually entertaining and was wet lit, but sets do not make a movie and cinematography cannot polish a poor performance. Full credit to DOP Lawrence Sher for trying though.
Primate is going to do something he never does, and drop a spoiler. Mike Tyson is in this one too. See they couldn’t think of anything new. Tiger Woods was by far the better choice. But like so many things in life, expectation leads to disappointment. The audience expected another smash hit comedy but was instead delivered a third rate tragedy.
exactly what I expected really. Same rehashed ideas, nothing new and nothing good that made the first one a sleeper hit. They should have never tried, because the whole point of the Hangover was that it was a reused idea cleverly shaped in brilliant ways and was very funny and very good. This one, even if it was great, still wouldn’t get anywhere near the first. Shame they couldn’t just leave it alone. Great review!
Thanks Lee. Jeong said his wife approves all of his scripts he does. They should get divorced.
Ouch!!
Oh dear…well I’ve prepared myself for seeing it this week so I’ll be curious to see how I find it. Awesomely worded review though… Jury is out for me until I see it….but you have screwed with my happiness..haha
Thank you kindly. I look forward to your comments on the film.
Hey. Mike Tyson? Really? That’s all i liked from the first one. I’ll be getting this on DVD. ((-;
It was a totally unnecessary film but I have to say that thanks to me going in with that view I quite enjoyed it. Would give it 3 stars but that’s just my worthless opinion.
No opinions are worthless. Glad you enjoyed it. I just didnt that’s all. thanks for reading my review though